Major Scott Anthony was commander at Fort Lyon when Colonel Chivington arrived with his command. He had replaced Major Edward Wynkoop, who had taken the chiefs to meet at Camp Weld. Wynkoop had become sympathetic to the Indians’ situation, but Anthony was more critical. Over the objection of some officers, he had agreed to join Chivington in his attack on Sand Creek on the understanding that the command would then continue to march against the bands to the north that were actively hostile and threatening white settlement and overland traffic along the Platte River. Anthony wrote this letter to his brother soon after the attack. In it he addresses some of his own impressions of the incident, the conditions at the time, and his frustrations about the attack and its aftermath.
I have been quite busy for a few days past; have had a funeral each day for three days past of men who lost their lives by the most miserable management that ever was known upon a battlefield. This makes, now, thirteen men that I have buried here out of that command, besides thirty-eight wounded, some of whom are yet in danger. Any one not desiring to make himself Brigadier-General could have gone to that “peacable Indian camp” with 200 men & killed the last Indian there, without losing in killed & wounded ten persons. I am inclined to think the Colonel dared not risk a longer trip into the hostile Indian country for fear he could not get promoted before reports in detail were published, showing his foolish action in that affair. One thing is certain: We here feel wronged by his action; he has whipped the only peacable Indians in the country, (which I wanted him to do if he would go further) he has after having got almost within sight of other Indians, turned back with the largest & best outfitted command that ever went against Indians in the locality, while everything was favorable.
It is true that the papers state that he was in two feet of snow, his stock worn down, the weather disagreeable, etc. etc. But regardless of these statements, I say that no command can come from the states with as good stock; the weather was as it has been ever since — delightful for this time of the year; the season just the right one for an Indian campaign; the moon in the right stage for forced night marches; & everything favorable for a campaign that would have been a credit to everyone engaged in it if he entered it for other than selfish purposes.
I have reported to the Com’dg General the facts, just as they occurred. I did not state that a white man’s scalp only two days old was found for the reason that no such thing was ever heard of by any one at this post, any more than the two feet of snow, until we heard it through the Denver papers. i did not wear my overcoat two days during the whole trip, & all my bedding stolen besides; so the weather could not have been so very severe.
I shall get out of the service just as quick as I can. Don’t know as that will be this year unless old Chivington gets me dismissed, & he would try if he knew how I had reported him.
Your Brother,
S. J. Anthony
Source: S. J. Anthony to brother, December 23, 1864, Scott Anthony Papers, History Colorado.
Evaluating the Evidence